More on dangerous drug

?The Ukiah Daily Journal, by accident, published a letter to the editor from informational only notes that I provided to them on local use of fluoroquinolones, a U.S. FDA bioterrorism preparedness drug.?One of the best pharmacies in Ukiah was listed in this letter and I am formally apologizing to them for this inconvenience, since all local pharmacies will provide prescription drug side-effect information upon request.

Well educated pharmacists across the United States work at local pharmacies and are your first line of defense in learning about the drugs you are taking, the symptoms from taking those drugs, and any interactions from taking multiple prescriptions and over the counter drugs.? All pharmacies provide important information on drug side-effects to the public.?

Doctors are prescribing a number of U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Bioterrorism Drugs for a variety of symptoms in hospitals and in their offices both locally and across the United States. Many times inadequate warnings are given to their patients of the short and long term side-effects (sometimes fatal), or the availability of other prescription drugs with less toxicside-effects that could be used. ?

In many instances patients admitted to hospitals are not warned in advance that one of these bioterrorism drugs may be used to treat their symptoms.?Hospital consultations on use of bioterrorism and other drugs should take place prior to being used on patients, including notification about alternative effective drugs with less serious side-effects.? This would give patients and family members a choice of possible alternatives and also prevent the use of drug which could impair their health in the future or help when drug-related side-effects show up in the future where treatment is needed.

One class of drugs which is currently being prescribed in increasing numbers to patients are U.S. Food & Drug Administration Bioterrorism Drugs like Fluoroquinolones.? These drugs have many side-effects which can appear days, weeks, or months after discontinuing usage [1]: ?"?WARNING: Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN?, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants?"

The following information from the U.S. FDA gives the Brand Name listings of some of the Fluoroquinolone bioterrorism drugs which are now being prescribed by doctors [2]: "?Information for Healthcare Professionals: Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Drug Listing:?

The side effects from taking these drugs are listed in U.S. FDA Reports on Bioterrorism Drugs [1], by the Mayo Clinic, and by other government sources.? These sources list multiple side-effects which you may experience long after taking the drug and these side-effects may be permanent, recur without warning, or be intermittent in nature.

A U.S. FDA ALERT on July 8, 2008 [2]: "FDA is notifying the makers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs for systemic use of the need to add a boxed warning to the prescribing information about the increased risk of developing tendinitis and tendon rupture in patients taking fluoroquinolones?"? Many lawsuits can be found online with regard to fluoroquinolone drug side-effects.

The U.S. FDA Alert also provides the following information: ?"?serious adverse reactions which may include convulsions, hallucinations, depression?diarrhea. Rarely, damage to the liver, kidneys or bone marrow?" [2]? In addition, other side-effects which have been noted in government reports [1] and on product labels, include, but are not limited to:? "?Central nervous system effects, including convulsions, anxiety, confusion, depression, and insomnia may occur after the first dose.? Use with caution in patients with known or suspected disorders that may predispose them to seizures or lower the seizure threshold? Peripheral neuropathy: discontinue if symptoms occur in order to prevent irreversibility?risks increase in persons over 60?"?

For a complete listing of these symptoms the U.S. FDA Report [1], has 65 pages of information on this type of drug.? Other reported symptoms, nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, light-headedness, trouble sleeping, long term health effects or new yeast infections, fever, sore throat, and symptoms that may be reversible if identified and treated early.? Other symptoms (some possibly fatal), include chest pain, vision changes, shaking, seizures, fainting, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, depression, rare thoughts of suicide, liver problems, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, rash, swelling, intestinal conditions, blood pressure changes which include fast irregular heartbeat, and if you are taking other drugs to regulate the heartbeat; the list is a long one.?

Some of these conditions may return "weeks or months after treatment,"and could be fatal, when the previous use of these types of drugs has been long forgotten by both the patient and their doctors.? The wrong treatment, without knowing the drug related cause, can make these conditions worse. Laboratory tests should be performed periodically to check for side-effects.

"?To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of LEVAQUIN? and other antibacterial drugs, LEVAQUIN? should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria [1]..."? Whenever possible alternative drugs with fewer side-effects are adequate to treat these types of infections.

All of this information is available to you from your local pharmacist, online, and from government reports.? Protect yourself and your family by investigating the symptoms of these drugs before taking them and require hospitals to inform you before they use this drug on you while you are in the hospital, without your knowledge.

1) U.S. Food & Drug Administration Information on this Bioterrorism Drug ? This is a 65 Page Document on Levofloxacin- Brand Name: Levaquin